Has anyone converted their MSR Whisperlite so that you can use it with MSR/Primus etc. cartridges? I love the Whisperlite but sometimes I'd appreciate if I could use cartridges (easier handling etc.). Basically you could just buy the hose from a Rapidfire (if available) and put this into the Whisperlite...then you have a cartridge stove. Am I right?

Yeah - or the new Whisperlite which burns all fuels. That's what MSR's got to say:

Tom. You heard right, in 2012 we are introducing the WhisperLite Universal hybrid-fuel stove. However, the canister fuel adaptor for the new WhisperLite Universal will not be compatible with old WhisperLite stoves. In order to make the WhisperLite Universal adaptors user-swappable, the stove design was modified to add a permanently-mounted, threaded connection and sealing features to the fuel line. Because this connection interface between the fuel line and the adaptor doesn’t exist on the previous models, the adaptor cannot be connected to older fuel lines. The burner design on the new WhisperLite Universal is also a little different to improve how well the stove performs on both fuels.

I agree. Buying a new stove would be the easiest way. But why always buy new stuff when the old one's still working (and could actually work with a small upgrade). It seems companies don't want to make their stuff upgradable (less sales, less money) and I think thats a poor mindset...

I think in the case of products that emit flame, an upgrade scheme for user implementation sounds like a path straight to the courtroom. I'm willing to bet MSR stoves hold a good deal of their value used, so there's always that option for the restless.

Gear does improve with time--The Markets (pbut) "demand it." But a stove that boils water will continue to boil water even after its cuter cousin appears on the scene. The only true death knell is when its fuel disappears.